Drafting Press Releases with ChatGPT and Claude: My Process

Why Dedicated AI Press Release Generators Are Unnecessary

The first time I paid a wire service $400 to distribute a press release for one of my web projects, I realized half the budget was wasted before the release even went live. I spent three hours writing a stiff draft that sounded like a legal filing. When I sent it off, the distribution editor stripped out the few interesting details I had included, leaving behind a sterile wall of text that zero journalists covered.

When standalone AI software began populating search results under queries like ai press release generator chatgpt, I tested a dozen of them. Most of these tools are simple wrappers around standard large language models. They charge monthly subscription fees ranging anywhere from $15 to $50 a month just to insert your product name into a rigid, pre-written prompt. You do not need to pay for a dedicated PR generator when you already have access to ChatGPT or Claude.

By using general-purpose models directly, you get full control over the structural tone, Associated Press (AP) style compliance, and quote nuances. Managing this process manually in your browser gives far better results than any single-purpose wrapper app.

ChatGPT vs. Claude for PR Writing

Both OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude handle long-form professional text well, but they display distinct strengths when structuring a press release. I rely on both tools at different stages of the drafting process.

Feature	ChatGPT (GPT-4o)	Claude (Claude 3.5 Sonnet)
AP Style Compliance	Strong	Moderate
Inverted Pyramid Structure	Excellent	Good
Natural Quote Tone	Average	Exceptional

ChatGPT tends to excel at following strict layout instructions. If you ask it for an AP-style dateline, boilerplate layout, and concise media contact section, it follows those formatting rules precisely. However, its default writing voice can sound slightly robotic and relies heavily on tired marketing buzzwords like “groundbreaking” or “seamless.”

Claude produces significantly more natural prose. When drafting founder quotes or explaining complex technical updates, Claude sounds like a human communicator rather than a promotional engine. My typical workflow uses ChatGPT to build the initial rigid framework and structural outline, followed by Claude to refine the language, tone, and executive quotes.

Both platforms offer free access tiers alongside premium subscriptions that generally cost around $20 per month. Because features and pricing tiers change frequently, make sure to check the official pricing pages for OpenAI and Anthropic before subscribing.

Step 1: Build a Source Fact Sheet Before Prompting

The biggest mistake I made when I started using Large Language Models for PR was handing the AI a single sentence—like “Write a press release about my new automation plugin”—and expecting a distribution-ready draft. The AI would inevitably hallucinate fictitious executive quotes, invent metrics, and add vague claims that would get rejected by any real news desk.

Before opening ChatGPT or Claude, write down a bulleted fact sheet containing raw information. Do not worry about making it sound pretty. Include:

• The Announcement: What is actually launching or happening today?
• The Location & Date: City, state/country, and publication date.
• Key Metrics or Features: Concrete numbers, factual capabilities, or pricing details.
• The Problem Solved: Why this matters to end users right now.
• Real Founder Quote: Two or three sentences explaining your motivation in your own words.
• Boilerplate: A brief description of your company or site.

Feeding raw facts into the AI prevents hallucinated statistics and ensures the generated content reflects your actual business operations.

Step 2: Generate the AP-Style Framework in ChatGPT

Once your fact sheet is ready, paste it into ChatGPT with a structured prompt. You want the model to use the classic inverted pyramid structure: placing the most crucial information in the headline and lead paragraph, followed by supporting details, quotes, and background information.

Here is the prompt template I use:

Act as a veteran public relations specialist. Draft an AP-style press release based strictly on the facts provided below. Do not use buzzwords such as 'game-changing,' 'revolutionary,' or 'groundbreaking.' Use the classic inverted pyramid structure: Lead paragraph (Who, What, When, Where, Why), body paragraphs with supporting details, a founder quote, and a standard boilerplate section at the end.

Review the output to ensure the lead paragraph answers the vital questions immediately. Journalists scan press releases in five seconds; if your core update is buried in paragraph three, the draft needs restructuring.

Step 3: Refine Quotes and Tone with Claude

ChatGPT’s initial draft will usually be structurally accurate, but the quotes often sound artificial. Phrases like “We are thrilled to pioneer this new paradigm” are an immediate red flag for journalists and distribution editors.

Take the draft generated by ChatGPT, copy it into Claude, and run a refinement prompt focused specifically on readability and quotes:

Review this press release draft. Rewrite the executive quote so it sounds like a real person talking in a natural, direct conversation. Remove any remaining corporate jargon or promotional fluff throughout the text. Maintain AP-style formatting and keep all factual metrics identical.

Claude usually strips away the artificial enthusiasm and replaces it with clear, authoritative statements. If the quote still feels distant, replace it manually with a real quote you spoke into a voice memo app. Human quotes are often the easiest part of a press release for an editor to evaluate.

Common Pitfalls and Technical Limitations

Using generic AI models as your press release generator requires active oversight. There are three major limitations you must account for during your final edit:

• Wire Distribution Rejections: Distribution services like PR Newswire or Business Wire have strict guidelines regarding promotional claims. If your AI draft makes claims like “the best app for solo creators” without external evidence, the wire editor will reject your submission or flag it for revision.
• Fake Quotations and Citations: If you leave gaps in your prompt, models will invent named executives or quote third-party research studies that do not exist. Double-check every name and source.
• Fluff Over Substance: AI models default to passive, overly descriptive prose. Press releases require clear, active-voice statements with verifiable details.

My Take: My Current PR Workflow

If you run a solo business or a collection of digital properties, spending hundreds of dollars on PR agencies or paying monthly fees for single-use AI tools is unnecessary. However, relying on a single AI prompt to generate a distribution-ready press release is equally risky.

My honest recommendation is to use a hybrid approach. I use ChatGPT Plus to establish the initial AP-style structure because of its strict compliance with layout prompts. Then I move the copy into Claude Pro to clean up the language, tone, and quotes. Finally, I spend 10 to 15 minutes manually editing the text to verify facts, ensure compliance with wire guidelines, and cut out passive voice.

This simple combination takes about twenty minutes total and costs zero additional dollars beyond the standard AI subscriptions I already use for my daily content operations.

FAQ

Can I publish an AI-generated press release directly to distribution wires?

You can, but you should never submit a raw AI draft without reviewing it first. Wire services review submissions for factual accuracy, capitalization standards, and promotional language. Unedited AI drafts often contain buzzwords or unsubstantiated claims that cause distribution networks to flag or reject the release.

Is ChatGPT better than a specialized AI press release generator?

Yes. Dedicated PR generator tools are typically built on top of the same APIs that power ChatGPT. By using ChatGPT directly, you avoid paying extra subscription fees, gain full control over your prompts, and can continuously refine the output based on your specific industry needs.

How do I prevent AI from inventing quotes in my press release?

Provide your own real quotes in the initial prompt fact sheet. Explicitly instruct the AI with the sentence: “Do not invent or add any quotes that are not explicitly provided in the source facts.” If you want the AI to format a quote for you, supply the core statement as bullet points and ask it only to refine the grammar.

Keep Reading

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• How I Edit Blog Posts with ChatGPT Without Losing My Voice
• Writing Amazon Listings with ChatGPT: A Practical Workflow
• How to Fact Check ChatGPT Drafts Before You Publish